Analysis and Improvement of the Fire Incidents in Apartment Houses

Abstract

In recent years, rapid urbanization and overcrowding have led to the construction of apartment buildings as a means of optimizing land utilization and providing residential facilities. However, among the firefighting facilities installed in these apartments, there is often a lack of automatic sprinklers or fire extinguishing devices in kitchens, particularly in older buildings. This absence of firefighting equipment makes it challenging to extinguish or control fires in their initial stages. To effectively reduce the occurrence of fires in apartment buildings, this study analyzed apartment fire incidents from 2015 to 2021 using the National Fire Data System of the National Fire Service. The analysis revealed that out of a total of 33,807 fires in multi-unit dwellings, 20,236 (59.9%) occurred in apartments. Consequently, there is a need for institutional improvements, as well as increased safety awareness among residents living in apartments and proactive engagement from facility managers.